The Indiana Bears? Why an interstate move for a cherished NFL team may work out

"The Chicago Bears have been renting since Warren G Harding was president. They started out in the NFL as tenants at Wrigley Field, sharing the baseball cathedral with the Cubs for 50 seasons before the league insisted all teams play in a stadium with a capacity of at least 50,000. So in 1971, the Bears decamped to Soldier Field, where they've been ever since."

"Soldier Field is prime football real estate: neoclassical, on the downtown lakefront, with sweeping views of one of America's most sumptuous skylines. But the lease terms are crazy, the city park district (which owns the stadium) is a borderline slumlord, and the Bears—star-crossed to play in the league's oldest and smallest stadium while representing its third-largest market—have outgrown the place."

"An Axios fan poll found that 74% would carry a grudge if the franchise skipped town. Ex-pros James Harrison and Joe Haden called it another classic case of NFL teams choosing money over community. Fox Sports analyst Rachel Nichols urged the family that has owned the team since Prohibition to sell if you don't have the resources to keep the Bears in Chicago."

The Chicago Bears have rented stadium space since their NFL inception in 1919, first at Wrigley Field for 50 seasons before moving to Soldier Field in 1971. Despite Soldier Field's prime lakefront location and neoclassical architecture, the Bears face disadvantageous lease terms, poor stadium maintenance by the city park district, and operate in the league's oldest and smallest facility. The franchise has outgrown the venue and begun exploring relocation options. Indiana lawmakers recently passed an amendment unanimously enabling the Bears to move to Hammond, Indiana. This potential move generated significant backlash, with 74% of fans expressing resentment and prominent figures questioning the decision to prioritize financial gain over community commitment.

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